How much is private health insurance? Is it worth paying for?

The NHS is a cornerstone of British society, providing healthcare for all, free at the point of use, regardless of income. It employs an army of 1.7 million dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to deliver world-class care. However, the system is under immense strain. Soaring demand coupled with chronic underfunding and staff shortages is putting unprecedented pressure on the NHS, leading to concerns about the quality and accessibility of care for many.

As a result of these challenges, private healthcare, once a luxury for the affluent, is becoming appealing to a broader demographic. Here’s everything you need to know about private health insurance. 

Why should I consider private insurance?

Quicker access to care

According to government data, the waiting list for NHS hospital treatment rose to a record of 7.7 million in September 2023, but has since fallen to 7.4 million in March 2025. The 18-week treatment target has not been met since 2016, which means there are millions of people stuck waiting for treatment.

Private hospitals generally have fewer patients, potentially offering faster access to diagnosis and treatment. It can also provide a faster route to potentially life-saving treatment in cases requiring urgent or emergency care.

Do bear in mind, though, that private services aren’t immune to delays, and you could still be placed on a waiting list. The My Planned Care website can help you decide whether to wait for NHS care or proceed in the private sector.

Access to specialists and advanced treatments

Private healthcare often (but not always) offers access to a wider range of specialists, providing patients with greater choice and potentially more specialised care.

Additionally, private hospitals have higher budgets than the NHS and frequently invest in cutting-edge technology, allowing them to offer a broader spectrum of specialist drugs and treatments, which may not be readily available within the NHS. This can be particularly beneficial for patients with complex or rare conditions.

Enhanced facilities and care

Private hospitals often offer a more comfortable, convenient and patient-centric experience. Unlike the shared ward environment typically found in the NHS, private patients often benefit from private rooms, often with en-suite bathrooms.

Private hospitals also offer ‘complementary services’. While these vary between providers, they typically include therapies such as massage and aromatherapy to aid recovery.

The NHS is currently undergoing extreme staffing shortages, with 121,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) vacancies and only 26% of the workforce stating there are enough staff at their organisation. Private hospitals typically maintain higher staffing levels, allowing for more personalised attention and support.

How much does private health insurance cost?

It’s impossible to give an average cost of private health insurance, as your quote will depend on your age, lifestyle, location, and any pre-existing health conditions. It’ll also vary between insurers and policies.

However, Bupa provides a few examples to give you an idea of what to expect:

• Around £50 a month for a single person, aged 25, who lives outside of London and doesn’t smoke
• Around £110 a month for a couple who are both 30-40 years old and don’t smoke
• Around £220 a month for a family including two adults in their 50s and two teenage children

The best way to get an idea of how much private health insurance would cost for you or your family is to get a few quotes using a comparison website.

Can I access private healthcare without insurance?

If you don’t want to take out insurance but would still like to access private healthcare, you can do self-pay. This is when you pay for healthcare only when you need it, which can be convenient, fast and flexible.

Self-pay prices vary between private hospitals, locations and the treatment required. A simple private GP appointment at a Bupa Centre would set you back £140 for a 30-minute face-to-face appointment, but bear in mind that any medication required, as well as further tests or appointments, will incur additional costs.

To give you an idea of how expensive specific treatments can be, here are some guide prices for a variety of treatments at Spire Hospital in Manchester:

• Hip replacement: From £14,121
• Back surgery (slipped disc): From £9,425
• Varicose vein treatment: From £3,492
• Endoscopy (stomach examination): £1,840

What do health insurance policies cover or not cover me for?

Depending on your level of cover, a health insurance policy in the UK may cover you for day-patient and/or inpatient care. Day patient refers to GP or specialist consultations and diagnostic tests such as X-rays, whereas inpatient care refers to hospital stays, surgery and intensive care.

Private medical insurance doesn’t typically cover you for pre-existing health conditions Likewise, they don’t generally cover the costs of treating chronic conditions that require ongoing or long-term care.

They also don’t cover accident and emergency, intensive care, pregnancy or childbirth, fertility treatment, sleep problems and disorders and allergies or intolerances, amongst some other conditions.

What should I look for when taking out a health insurance policy?

Firstly, think about the level of cover that you need. Options range from basic to comprehensive. A basic policy often covers outpatient care, but not inpatient care. This means you’ll use the NHS for diagnosis, and private hospitals for inpatient care. A comprehensive policy, on the other hand, provides you with unlimited outpatient cover.

Remember to check carefully about what is and what isn’t included before you take out a policy. Which conditions are included? Are they relevant to you? What choice of hospitals will you get with the policy? These are all questions to ask the provider.

Secondly, check the policy limits and excess. Each insurer will offer a maximum amount that you can claim annually, as well as how much you can claim per condition. Look for the policy that offers the highest limit for your budget. Like other types of insurance, health insurance policies usually come with an excess. This is the amount you pay before the insurance covers the rest. Make sure you’re comfortable with this figure.

Lastly, consider the costs. The more comprehensive the cover, the more expensive the policy will be. Still, there’s likely to be some variation in price between providers even if they’re offering similar levels of coverage, so use a comparison site to check who can offer the best cover for your budget.